HB Archives

1965
Kelly's 2-in-1 Surfboard

In 1965, Hawaii Business & Industry announced the first approved patent on John Kelly's innovative surfboard, the "hydroplane." Kelly, the manager of Inter Island Surf Shop, designed a board that was capable of both long boarding and short boarding, ideal in a time when many surfers could only afford one board. The board combined the speed of a long board with the maneuverability of a short board in its slightly raised tail section. The riding style could change by shifting the weight of the rider, lowering the tail for steering or raising the tail for speed.

"According to Kelly, a number of big-time surfers have already sung unqualified praises of the design," Hawaii Business & Industry reported; however, after a couple of years, the novelty of the design faded away. Although shapers have abandoned the design, the theory is still applied from time to time, says Barry Morrison, current owner of Inter Island Surf Shop.

1970
Mission House Makeover

A $275,000 renovation of the Mission Houses Museum in downtown Honolulu began in 1970 to attract more tourists to the area. Prior to the makeover, the museum offered little in the way of displays. "Most of the furniture and other antique pieces owned by the museum were locked up in chests or hidden away in rooms not open to the public," reported Hawaii Business. The remodel created an area to safely display these pieces.

Once open, the museum charged $1.50 for tours and $10 for lifetime memberships. Today, a walking tour costs visitors $10. Members of the museum pay annual dues ranging from $15 for students to $100 for family memberships.

1975
Pickin' Papayas

In 1975, Hawaii Business reported on the developments at Princess Orchards in Pulehu, Maui. The 20-acre papaya farm, an Alexander & Baldwin subsidiary, opened in 1972, "constituting a dark green splotch amid the billowing sugar fields."

Beyond aesthetics, Princess Orchards was notable because of its heavily experimental operations. The irrigation system provided the ideal amount of water for the papaya trees, making for firmer fruit that shipped and handled well. In addition, A&B opted to ship the fruit via its own Matson Navigation Co. freighters, allowing for cost savings and flexibility. The single-operator, $4,000 picking machine, the "kangaroo," averted damage to the fruit and to the irrigation system.

In 1978, in spite of creative and intensive efforts, the papaya farm was phased out and converted into fields for sugar cane, says A&B community relations manager, Linda Howe, and A&B remains the largest sugar and coffee grower in the state.